Alistair Johnston sounded bullish about his chances of recovering from Tuesday’s hip injury in time for the League Cup Final. That aside, Brendan Rodgers has a full squad to choose from.
The only potential change from the starting 11 in Zagreb would be Arne Engels for Paulo Bernardo. Paulo was a big player against Newco last season, including at Hampden, so you have to fancy he will get the nod.
We know what to expect from Newco. They will get the ball forward early and push wide. Celtic usually win these games because with Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor on the left, with (now) Nicolas Kuhn and Alistair Johnston on the right, we have the speed and talent to cover and breakdown their attacks.
Reo Hatate is key to the middle of the park. He has the strength to hold off his man, turn and draw in another. That opens space in front of the ball for Celtic to create a chance. He is a player at the peak of his talent; Sunday is an occasion made for him. Expect a rebound from Tuesday.
The last time we lost to Newco at Hampden was the 2022 Scottish Cup semifinal, Celtic had a week to prepare and Newco had played a Europa Cup quarterfinal three days earlier. We assumed Celtic would be fresher but they inexplicably wilted as the game wore on and lost in extra-time.
That was then. Now, we have had an extra two days’ rest and should be far fresher than the opposition on Sunday. With Forrest, Idah, Engels (or Bernardo), McCowan and Valle all capable of bringing fresh momentum, we have a significantly stronger bench and should be able to kick on from the 70 minute mark.
Newco will be buoyed by their performance against Tottenham last night. Their press stopped Spurs’ ability to build a cohesive attack. They will inevitably deploy the same strategy at Hampden. Tottenham were a bit like Celtic on Tuesday; bereft of patience in the middle of the park, while trying to create openings with low percentage passing.
I believe Celtic are a better side than Tottenham, we will see on Sunday. And, oh Ange! What have you put your name to? That performance had Bodo/Glimt written all over it.
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Good afternoon all from Mulligans. Liverpool 10 men giving Fulham a real game. Great atmosphere in here.
And Fulham score. 😂
2-2 what a game 😳
and liverpool score
back in the room
Not many hun here. Spotted 3 and I’ve been around the resort and Las Palmas. Wearing cheap crappy hun shirts, tatoos, no necks, baldy and smelling like last weeks shite. And that’s just the wummin.
BRRB
I didn’t see any in my two weeks there and there was loads of Scots in Playa de Mogan, never seen so many here before 🫣
1 Month free Premier Sports code for the game tomorrow FREEURC.
Choose monthly and apply the code. Once set up request to cancel as you need to give 30 days notice and it will stay on until the 14th January then automatically cancel with no charge, you need to choose the streaming option for it to work 👍🏻
Prestonpans
You were lucky. Hideous visions I can tell ye.
Idah is being made to look not worth the money just like Engles.
If Khun dizny score a wonder goal with defenders all backing off him then he becomes another invisible man. How many crosses does he put into the opposition box per game? Is that not his real job?
We have 2 Japanese strikers who possess a level of pace which is virtually unplayable, and yet you could count on the one hand how many balls have been played over the top to utilise this pace, and that is from both Ange and Brendan’s spells in charge. Unacceptable idiotic manager’s.
All of this is because both Ange and Brendan are limited manager’s who are not subject to proper scrutiny in a One horse league.
We have had no “banana skin” games since David Martindale stopped [ parking the bus ] at Livingston and they got relegated because of that.
Livingston have now tooled up with shrewdly assembled ginger bottle level of recruitment in comparison to the countless Celtic £millions which have yet to be justified outside of the One horse level environment, in front of 60,000 brainwashed to the point of being backwards Tims, who despite all of their snowflake University degrees , they weakly indulge a PLC who don’t even allow themselves to be questioned, unless it comes from yon non PLC Shill, Joe McHugh.
Super Joe McHugh dared to ask real questions at the AGM which sparked a desperate and immediate and sneakily unappetising looking Brendan defence of the PLC, from the Hunlike hard questions from the Hun McHugh troll – as Dimmy would call Super Joe.
In terms of shrewdly making the best of skant resources, David Martindale must be the most unsung hero of the underdog clubs like Livingston now that they are playing on the break smartly again, and if they get promoted vs the airy fairy John McGlynn’s Falkirk, Celtic Way Mugs, then the last real tricky games, which were the norm at Livi will be back next season again.
Good luck to all underdogs no matter what school they went to.
Full moon tonight. 🌝
🌚🌚🌚
me neither
Is AJ definitely fit to play.Only seen a post on here,nowhere else.Someone tell me please.
BR said he would be out on the grass at Lennoxtown on Friday afternoon as he was given more recovery time, since then i’ve not read anything either way, I think he will be fine to start, but that is only my opinion.
We shall thrash the hun.
I think we will win but be have to be ready for their physical dirty approach to the game, despite this a Celtic player will be first in the cheats book.
If that idiot manages to patch up Souter,and takes a gamble with him,nursing a groin strain,in the conditions tomorrow,he wont last 20 mins.The other guy,no idea what’s up with him.
Clement has a problem.Balogun can’t play 2 games a week,and had to come on Thursday.
All nice problems for us.Kyogo can give them hell.
Everyone says that Tav is terrified of Maeda.How do you think their Centre backs feel about the wee man?.
Justice for Forrest after another ridiculous VAR offside
Interesting new chairman at ibrox.
Lifelong season ticket holder. Maybe but maybe not.
He certainly enjoyed the years of Murray largess and dominance. Not so sure he was seen there much since.
Also interesting to note very few who ever attended CP employed at Burns Stewart or Distell when he was there.
Even more interesting is that the prophesy that their children would be Celtic supporters is coming true. This guy Draser Thornton embodies that. Apparently his son is a Celtic season ticket holder.
B78
Bankier?
Dessybhoy
Fair point but not sure he was a Celtic fan when there. Not a catholic I don’t think either.
Ashley got the scum in his grasp again.Funny on FF,loads trying to look on the bright side,loads disgusted.Tell you what though,not many of the young one would wear Umbro for free.
One has just printed out the deal that gives big Mike control of the Professional Kits side of the business.They don’t like that up em.
😂😂
Would not.
There’s evil going on…..
https://youtu.be/osnDVXlhxPw?si=P8nQ0hKKGe1PXakF
Evening all.
BRRB
Full moon you say.
Warren Zevon – Werewolves Of London
https://youtu.be/qae25976UgA?si=rmFjVFWz5JJgYyT6
Trying to log in the old way. Still not easy. Don’t understand tbh.
Nite y’all
Cream – Sunshine of your love
https://youtu.be/vyftaay-pFA?si=u1H75vqdTOv8UKTC
‘Mon the hoops
HH
Brian
B78
I don’t think he was a Celtic fan while Chairman.
No one seems to ever speak of our 4th Treble.
Maybe because it ended with the young goalie saving penalties in an empty stadium ? Maybe because the league did not get completed ? Maybe because we were played off the park by them but still won the league cup ?
Whatever the reason it does deserve some recognition.
Especially that League Cup Final. They had a party planned for Ibrox post game. Big stages and DJs. It was Stevie G’s first trophy to celebrate. The Rangers were back.
Our guys dug deep and rode their luck and big Jullian got us that goal. I was lucky enough to enjoy a more discrete celebration back at CP. we had won the first leg of yet another treble.
Gerard would only win one trophy as a manager and that with no audience and no support to celebrate.
The league cup can set the tone for a season. That one did. It was special. Celtic a serial winners won it. Credit due to Lennie and those guys. Let’s hope our serial winners come through again tomorrow and put them back in their box.
Another treble would be a distinct possibility and another reset across the city another likely outcome. The league cup really does set the tone.
I will be in SS lower tomorrow as I was for 4 of the 5 trebles this century. I was in front of the TV for the Hearts penalties of course.
As always my mum and dad and uncles who have gone before me will be invited / implored to give us that wee bit extra from on high. Like they did when wee Jeramie was sent off in 2019.
If we do prevail I am sure, in common with many of you, I will have a wee moment of thought for our friend SFTB.
Let’s hope we DO prevail tomorrow.
Nite all.
Give the hun an absolute hiding tomorrow my wonderful Glasgow Celtic.
Was hoping to say the weather looks fair for tomorrow afternoon in Glasgow but surprisingly that does not look likely for the middle of December in ol’ Strathclyde. Funny that.
Rain, rain and more rain is the order of the day, including mid afternoon. That per se should not be a problem for our game, we can move the ball forward quickly, although so can they, and we have an ability to create any number of chances from quick counter attacks, and more than a few players capable of scoring in big games.
Not a gimme though, so we, ergo Brendan, need to keep our eyes on the prize, which is as offtimes before,….green and white ribbons on the Cup!
If i had choice of manager over my life to set out on a final, it would be Rodgers. Total professional, we’ve had a few rank amateurs over the years
https://x.com/indyscotnews/status/1868074541756342764?t=y3OEaMciRRIukwnJn8J7mg&s=19
7.1
Enjoy
I thought Brendan had a wee edge to him at the presser yesterday, hopefully will get to the players, we could not hope for a better manager at this time
Good morning all from a mild but wet 11 degree Garden of God.
No crap or fannying about today 3 – 1 to the Hoops.
Is AJ fit ?????
D. :)
Good morning all.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!